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| What next for Labour’s thinking on Brexit? | What next for Labour’s thinking on Brexit? |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| It is bizarre to find Rafael Behr making alt-left/alt-right comparisons (On Europe, the hard left shows its affinity to the ‘alt-right’, 25 September) at a time when their differences could not be more apparent. John McDonnell has set out a clear anti-austerity agenda, alongside employee share ownership, a national investment bank, the restoration of free university education etc. You don’t have to believe Corbyn is a saint, or that a Labour government will provide a miracle solution to all the injustices faced by working-class communities, to be able to see that this isn’t Trump-style populism. But Behr insists there is a clear affinity. | It is bizarre to find Rafael Behr making alt-left/alt-right comparisons (On Europe, the hard left shows its affinity to the ‘alt-right’, 25 September) at a time when their differences could not be more apparent. John McDonnell has set out a clear anti-austerity agenda, alongside employee share ownership, a national investment bank, the restoration of free university education etc. You don’t have to believe Corbyn is a saint, or that a Labour government will provide a miracle solution to all the injustices faced by working-class communities, to be able to see that this isn’t Trump-style populism. But Behr insists there is a clear affinity. |
| Behr claims Labour retains a critical view of the EU because it is “hostile to the set of postwar institutions that [uphold] a hegemonic capitalist world order.” If you are opposed to said world order, such suspicion is necessary. It doesn’t render you incapable of recognising what is and is not worth preserving or defending against the populist right. It remains the case though that EU competition policy militates against state intervention and promotes privatisation. To argue that taking this into account is “common ground” with the alt-right suggests that Behr, like many on the liberal left, has a fealty to the institutions of that “hegemonic capitalist world order” over and above any politics designed to improve the lot of working-class people.Nick MossLondon | Behr claims Labour retains a critical view of the EU because it is “hostile to the set of postwar institutions that [uphold] a hegemonic capitalist world order.” If you are opposed to said world order, such suspicion is necessary. It doesn’t render you incapable of recognising what is and is not worth preserving or defending against the populist right. It remains the case though that EU competition policy militates against state intervention and promotes privatisation. To argue that taking this into account is “common ground” with the alt-right suggests that Behr, like many on the liberal left, has a fealty to the institutions of that “hegemonic capitalist world order” over and above any politics designed to improve the lot of working-class people.Nick MossLondon |
| • If, as you report (EU steps up plans for no-deal Brexit as Labour stance alarms capitals, 26 September) “Corbyn has confirmed that unless the agreement struck in Brussels can deliver ‘exactly the same benefits’ as membership of the single market and the customs union, Labour would vote it down ‘in order to send the government – if it is still in office – straight back to the negotiating table’”, could Labour reveal how it intends to depart the EU without crossing any of the EU’s perfectly understandable red lines, and despite its repeated assertion that the UK cannot cherry pick? What does Labour think it can negotiate that this lamentable government can’t? If there’s a general election win by Labour, the national disillusionment with politics will be catastrophically complete unless Labour comes clean to its voters that there is no good deal available to us without accepting all the central tenets of EU membership. So why leave? Labour must be courageous and stand up for the truth.Madeleine WorrallLondon | • If, as you report (EU steps up plans for no-deal Brexit as Labour stance alarms capitals, 26 September) “Corbyn has confirmed that unless the agreement struck in Brussels can deliver ‘exactly the same benefits’ as membership of the single market and the customs union, Labour would vote it down ‘in order to send the government – if it is still in office – straight back to the negotiating table’”, could Labour reveal how it intends to depart the EU without crossing any of the EU’s perfectly understandable red lines, and despite its repeated assertion that the UK cannot cherry pick? What does Labour think it can negotiate that this lamentable government can’t? If there’s a general election win by Labour, the national disillusionment with politics will be catastrophically complete unless Labour comes clean to its voters that there is no good deal available to us without accepting all the central tenets of EU membership. So why leave? Labour must be courageous and stand up for the truth.Madeleine WorrallLondon |
| • Martin Kettle’s article (Keir Starmer launched an unexpected Brexit zinger – and it hit the spot, 25 September) was masterly and possibly prophetic. Starmer has had the courage to break through political manoeuvring and express the deep-seated conviction of the vast majority of Labour members by saying: “Nobody is ruling out remain as an option.” This could go down in history as the spark that kindled a pragmatic rebellion against the fudge of the last two years. It could open the door to a visionary return to liberalism from selfish arrogance and make us realise, with John Donne, that: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory cease.”Rev John PowellCardigan, Ceredigion | • Martin Kettle’s article (Keir Starmer launched an unexpected Brexit zinger – and it hit the spot, 25 September) was masterly and possibly prophetic. Starmer has had the courage to break through political manoeuvring and express the deep-seated conviction of the vast majority of Labour members by saying: “Nobody is ruling out remain as an option.” This could go down in history as the spark that kindled a pragmatic rebellion against the fudge of the last two years. It could open the door to a visionary return to liberalism from selfish arrogance and make us realise, with John Donne, that: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory cease.”Rev John PowellCardigan, Ceredigion |
| • It is increasingly clear that no Brexit agreement that passes Labour’s six tests would be acceptable to the EU, as it would mean retaining the benefits of being a member without having to accept the restrictions. To this extent I think the Brexiters are right: the only realistic options are a hard Brexit or not leaving at all. As the former is unacceptable to the vast majority of members and MPs, the only coherent position for the party to adopt is to campaign for a second referendum including “remain” as an option.Steve BamfordSheffield | • It is increasingly clear that no Brexit agreement that passes Labour’s six tests would be acceptable to the EU, as it would mean retaining the benefits of being a member without having to accept the restrictions. To this extent I think the Brexiters are right: the only realistic options are a hard Brexit or not leaving at all. As the former is unacceptable to the vast majority of members and MPs, the only coherent position for the party to adopt is to campaign for a second referendum including “remain” as an option.Steve BamfordSheffield |
| • Zoe Williams’ view (Yes, Labour’s Brexit jumble sale was ugly: it was democratic, 25 September) that the party’s new Brexit stance (on having another referendum) is the product of grassroots decision-making, and her joy in conference’s glorious democracy, ignores the obvious. Grassroots decision-making was done in the referendum. The “grassroots” she is referring to are party members, unrepresentative of anybody but themselves.Charlotte RitchieOxford | • Zoe Williams’ view (Yes, Labour’s Brexit jumble sale was ugly: it was democratic, 25 September) that the party’s new Brexit stance (on having another referendum) is the product of grassroots decision-making, and her joy in conference’s glorious democracy, ignores the obvious. Grassroots decision-making was done in the referendum. The “grassroots” she is referring to are party members, unrepresentative of anybody but themselves.Charlotte RitchieOxford |
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